PLASMA INJECTION SYSTEM

	At the terminus of each PTC is the plasma injection system, a series 
of eighteen valved magnetic injectors linked to the warp engine controllers. 
There is one injector for each warp field coil, and the injectors may be fired 
in variable sequences, depending on the warp flight function being executed. 
The injectors are constructed of arkenium duranide and single-crystal 
ferrocarbonite, with magnetic constriction toroids of nalgetium serrite. 
Control inputs and feedback are handled by twelve redundant links to the 
optical data network (ODN). Small timing discrepancies between the 
computer and the injectors exist during any initial startup of the coils or 
change in warp factors, due to the physical distance from the computer to 
the engines. These are rapidly smoothed out by predictive phase-
synchronization software routines, thereby achieving as close to realtime 
operation of the engines as possible.
	The injector open-close cycle is variable, from 25 ns to 50 ns. Each 
firing of an injector exposes its corresponding coil to a burst of energy to be 
converted into the warp field. At Warp Factors 1Ð4, the injectors fire at low 
frequencies, between 30 Hz and 40 Hz, and remain open for short periods, 
between 25 ns and 30 ns. At Warp Factors 5Ð7, the firing frequencies rise 
from 40 Hz to 50 Hz, and the injectors remain open for longer periods, 30 ns to 
40 ns.
	At Warp Factors 8Ð9.9, the injector firing frequencies rise to 50 Hz, 
but there is a tailoff of the injector cycle time, owing to limitations of residual 
charges in the magnetic valves, potential conflict with the energy 
frequencies from the M/ARC, and input/feedback control reliability. The 
longest safe cycle time for high warp is generally accepted to be 53 ns.  Æ